May 24, 1935 – A landmark event occurred at the ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio. President Franklin D. Roosevelt flicked the switch ceremoniously from the Nation’s Capitol and the lights went on for a Major League baseball game for the first time in history!
Despite the neigh-sayers, National League President Ford Frick embraced the technology in a speech while in attendance saying, “One game of course, but the players were not handicapped in any way that I could see and I believe we will have more of it in 1936.”
Very prophetic words indeed as look at the amount of night baseball games played in this era of the sport. The Reds held on to win it 2-1 over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in front of a crowd of over 20,000. According to a post on OfftheBenchBaseball.com, there are twice as many MLB night games played nowadays as there are daytime versions.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
TAKE THIS JOB and LOVE IT!!!
INTRO (JINGLE): AMERICAN TOP 40 CASEY KASEM (IMPRESSION): You’re listening to AT 40, coming
1967 Oakland Raiders (AFL Champions)
Before we break down the Oakland Raider’s 1967 season, let’s take a quick look
Remembering the Epic 2010 Formula One Season
In 2024, Formula One finds itself at a point that it hasn’t seen in
How Sports Podcasts are Enhancing Connections Between Fans and Athletes
The days when sports fans had to rely on live broadcasts and the next
Unforgettable Rivalries: College Football’s Greatest Showdowns
College football rivalries aren’t just games; they are spectacles that encompass history, pride, and
Earnie Shavers: Boxing’s Heavy Hitter
Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes called him the hardest puncher they ever faced, harder
A Brief History of Sports Video Games
As the new NFL, Premier League, and, a bit later, NBA seasons get underway,
YESSIREE, BOB…BACKLUND! ONE NITE ONLY
INTRO: A CHORUS OF CRUNCHY HEAVY METAL GUITARS ANNOUNCER: Welcome to another head-banging, rocket-fueled,